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Highlights
Hike from Munich to Garmish on the Alpine Crossing which goes to Venice
Visit the beautiful Olympic town of Garmisch in Bavarian mountains.
Walk along numerous beautiful lakes, such as Lake Starnberger See and Lake Kochelsee.
Enjoy the local cuisine with great beers and hearty foods.
Extend this trip with 3 other stages that take you all the way to Venice!
Pure hiking bliss awaits during our holiday between the Bavarian capital Munich and the Olympic town of Garmisch.
During the first part of the holiday there is water in all shapes and forms to marvel at. There is the blue Isar river, waterfalls, gurgling streams and the imposing Bavarian lake scenery. Best of all is the the renowned Lake Starnberger See leading the way and Lake Kochelsee framed by mountains, along whose lakeside a marvellous hiking experience awaits.
Lake Kochelsee leads you into the splendid mountain region around Garmisch, which offers everything that defines a great hiking region: impressive mountain backdrops, high-altitude hiking tours with leisurely cable car rides as well as hearty alp huts offering Bavarian specialities.
Important note: This tour is part of the Alpine Crossing series, that can be combined into a 29-day trek from Munich to Venice. Check out other parts of the trek:
Alpine Crossing 2: Garmish to Meran
Alpine Crossing 3: Meran to Lake Garda
Alpine Crossing 4: Lake Garda to Venice
Pure hiking bliss awaits during our holiday between the Bavarian capital Munich and the Olympic town of Garmisch.
During the first part of the holiday there is water in all shapes and forms to marvel at. There is the blue Isar river, waterfalls, gurgling streams and the imposing Bavarian lake scenery. Best of all is the the renowned Lake Starnberger See leading the way and Lake Kochelsee framed by mountains, along whose lakeside a marvellous hiking experience awaits.
Lake Kochelsee leads you into the splendid mountain region around Garmisch, which offers everything that defines a great hiking region: impressive mountain backdrops, high-altitude hiking tours with leisurely cable car rides as well as hearty alp huts offering Bavarian specialities.
Important note: This tour is part of the Alpine Crossing series, that can be combined into a 29-day trek from Munich to Venice. Check out other parts of the trek:
Alpine Crossing 2: Garmish to Meran
Alpine Crossing 3: Meran to Lake Garda
Alpine Crossing 4: Lake Garda to Venice
Read more
Alpine Crossing 1: Munich to Garmish Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Munich
Seize the day of arrival to visit the centre of Munich with its numerous sights and experience Bavarian cordiality in one of the many characteristic beer gardens.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Munich
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Walk to Schäftlarn
From the Bavarian metropolis you walk along the river Isar through forests and meadows. Along the Way of St. James until the famous Schäftlarn monastery, where you get to enjoy Bavarian delicacies and freshly brewed beer in the beer garden of the monastery. A short steep ascent takes you out of the Isar-valley to Schäftlarn.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Schäftlarn
Distance: 3.5-4 hours, 12km, 200m of ascent, 100m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Walk through Maisinger Gorge to Bernried
You walk through the impressive Maisinger Gorge to Lake Maisinger See; an idyllic moor-lake situated amidst spectacular scenery. Onwards to Possenhofen, where Empress Sissi spent her childhood. Past the island ‘Roseninsel‘ and Sissi‘s beloved lido Feldafing the route leads you along the idyllic path along the lakeside of Lake Starnberger Sees.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Bernried
Distance: 4-4.5 hours, 18km, 150m of ascent, 150m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 Past Lake Starnberger to Kochel
After a visit to the Benedictine monastery Bernried in the morning you proceed through the Bernrieder Park and picturesque nature reserves directly along the water. Soon you reach Seeshaupt, the southern end of Lake Starnberger See. This is the start of the incredibly beautiful lake district of the Osterseen-lakes, where you enjoy marvelous walks along their lakesides and a swim. Fantastic views onto Mount Zugspitze you have from the large Lake Ostersee, home of a multitude of waterfowl.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Kochel
Distance: 4 hours, 16km, 50m of ascent, 50m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 Day of rest or circular walk Lake Kochelsee
A day for relaxation and enjoyment of a landscape, which was also very much appreciated by many famous artists such as Franz Marc and Kandinsky. Follow our hiking suggestion via bridges and footbridges to the Lainbach-waterfalls, which impressively pour into a gorge. You walk along the rock-path around Lake Kochelsee as far as Schlehdorf. Finally, you take the boat back to Kochel.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Kochel
Distance: 3-3.5 hours, 11km, 200m of ascent, 200m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 Into the mountains to Wallgau
Today the first mountain-tour awaits! The route leads you to the renowned Herzogstad on the bridlepath, which was already used by King Louis in order to reach his hunting lodge. Once you reach the top you take a well-earned break in the legendary beer garden or climb up to the Herzogstand, where you get a view all the way to Munich and into the high mountain range from the panorama-pavillon. Then you glide effortlessly into the valley by cable car, where you take the bus to Wallgau.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Wallgau
Distance: 3.5-4 hours, 7km, 750m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 Arrive in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
A fantastic summit-tour onto Mount Wank awaits. You walk through the deep Finzbach-ravine and ascend to the Finz-alp, a little hut in a fabulous location. Onwards to the Esterberg-alp, where you get to enjoy specialities of the chalet before you embark on the final ascent through the forest to the summit. From above you see the entire Zugspitz-massif and the ‘Wetterstein‘-mountains, situated directly opposite and the town deep below you, an unforgettable view! Then sway comfortably downhill by cable car to Garmisch.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Distance: 5 hours, 16km, 950m of ascent, 100m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 Departure or extension
Departure your accommodation after the breakfast.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Alpine Crossing 1: Munich to Garmish Tour and Dates
This self-guided tour is always run as a private tour for your group only, where the pricing depends on your travelling dates, as well as the types of the rooms that you need. The tour is offered between May 11th and October 4th and the departures are available every Saturday.2024 Departures: Prices below are per person:
- Price per person staying in a single room: from EUR1248*
- Price per person sharing a double room: from EUR979*
*-Pricing for this tour depends on the dates of your trip. Please click the Book Now button below to get the exact pricing for your trip dates. Hotel upgrades are available for an extra charge.
Accommodation on Alpine Crossing 1: Munich to Garmish Tour
This tour is based in hotels. Hotels on this trip are 3-star (with one 4-star hotel in Munich) and offer modern conveniences that can make this trip more pleasant.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travellers
Rooms are double occupancy. You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel where possible. Solo travellers may be required to pay a supplement.
What’s Included in the Alpine Crossing 1: Munich to Garmish Tour?
Meals
7 breakfasts are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 7 nights are included.
Transportation during the Tour
This tour includes luggage transfers; however, you will be walking from town to town yourself. Included transfers:
- Transfer from Schäftlarn to Starnberg
- Boat ride over the Lake Kochelsee
- Cable car descent at Herzogstand
- Cable car descent at Wank
Please note that several public transfers will be required that are not included in the tour package.
Also Included
- Luggage transfer
- Welcome briefing (German, English)
- Transfers according to program
- Carefully elaborated route description
- Detailed travel documents 1x per room (German, English)
- App for Navigation and GPS-data available
- Service hotline
Not included
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Visas if required
- Meals, drinks, or snacks not previously mentioned
- Guide services
- Tourist tax
- Transfers not mentioned as ‘included’.
Optional Extras
- Additional nights before or after the tour
- Single occupancy upgrades
- Return transfer
- How hard is the Alpine Crossing 1: Munich to Garmish Tour?
- I’ve never been on a self-guided trip! How does it work?
- Is this tour run in English?
- Do I need a visa to travel to Germany?
- Are meals included on the Alpine Crossing 1: Munich to Garmish Tour?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Munich start this tour?
- Where does the Alpine Crossing 1: Munich to Garmish Tour end?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to Germany?
- Are there any travel restrictions for Germany?
We rate this tour as a 3 / 5. The first part of your hiking week leads you leisurely on just slightly hilly terrain through the Alpine foothills. All in all a hiking holiday full of enjoyment, with daily walking times of 5 hours maximum, whereas with both days in the mountains you always have a choice between an easier and a more athletic option.
Self-guided travelling is not difficult! For many, it is a preferred type of travel, since you are in charge of your own time and pace. You are provided with all the information you’ll need to follow the route each day and often have access to phone support or other kinds of assistance. However, self-guided travelling requires good navigation skills and those who don’t feel confident in unknown places should consider booking guided tours.
All tour information will be provided in English. German tour package is available as well.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
7 breakfasts are included.
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip, and your insurance should cover trekking. Get your travel insurance.
You can get to Munich by flying to Munich Airport (German: Flughafen München), MUC.
The tour ends in Garnisch.
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
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